As a design consultancy, it's tempting to want to impress clients with flashy, colorful solutions. After all, a visually striking design can grab attention and make a strong first impression. But when it comes to designing systems that serve large audiences, it's important to remember that simple is often better.

This is why striving for simple, streamlined solutions is core to Theft’s approach to research and design.

One of the main benefits of a streamlined, simple design is that it's more user-friendly. When a design is cluttered and overly complex, it can be confusing and overwhelming for users. We see this too often, where teams choose to add more bells and whistles instead of focusing on underlying structural issues. This can lead to frustration and abandonment of the system. On the other hand, a simple, easy-to-use design will keep users engaged and encourage them to continue using the system.

Simplicity is also important for accessibility. When a design is cluttered and complex, it can be difficult for users with disabilities to navigate and use the system. By keeping the design simple and straightforward, it becomes more accessible to a wider range of users.

Simple designs are simply more scalable. When a system is designed to handle a large number of unnecessary additions, it's important to consider how it will perform under heavy usage. A complex design with many interconnected parts is more prone to breaking and experiencing performance issues. A simple design, on the other hand, is more likely to be able to handle the increased usage without problems.

Of course, this isn't to say that all design should be devoid of creativity or visual appeal.

But it's important to strike a balance and prioritize user experience and functionality over flashiness. By keeping it streamlined and simple, design consultancies can serve their clients much more effectively, especially when designing systems that serve large audiences.

At Theft, we pride ourselves in our systems thinking, or 'systems design'. This is the process of creating and organizing the components of a system to achieve a specific goal. It involves finding simple solutions to complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces and then creating a plan to bring those pieces together.

One of the key principles of systems design is — you guessed it — the idea of simplicity.

There are several ways to find simple solutions to complex problems in systems design. One approach is to start by defining the problem clearly and understanding the needs and constraints of the system. This helps to identify the key elements that need to be included in the solution and allows designers to focus on those elements rather than getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

Another important aspect of systems design is modularity. Modular systems are made up of smaller, independent components that can be easily replaced or updated without affecting the overall system. This makes it easier to maintain and modify the system over time, as well as to scale it up or down as needed.

Ultimately, the goal of systems design is to create solutions that are efficient, effective, and easy to use. By finding simple solutions to complex problems, designers can create systems that are robust, scalable, and able to meet the changing needs of users. Ergo: keepin' it simple!